Egypt's toppled president Mohamed Morsi stood inside a glass-encased metal cage today at the start of a new trial in Cairo over mass prison breakouts during the country’s 2011 revolution.

Mr Morsi was flown by helicopter from a prison in Alexandria and was separated from other defendants, who turned their back to the court in protest. The case is rooted in the escape of more than 20,000 inmates — including Mr Morsi and other Brotherhood members — during the early days of the 18-day uprising against ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

Mr Morsi, Egypt’s first freely-elected president, was deposed by the military, led by Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, last July after mass protests against his rule. He is facing four separate criminal trials on various charges.

The trial began as a senior aide to the interior minister was shot dead in Cairo. State media described the killing of General Mohammed Said as an “assassination”. Egypt’s top military council yesterday gave Field Marshal al-Sisi permission to seek election as president.